The Leviathan's Rose

Chapter 8 - Soft Hands

A storm roiled beneath Ellie's skin. Jamie was an unwavering pillar in her life, he always had been, and always had to be. Seeing him break down and be so disarmed filled Ellie with fear.

She didn't miss the way Lottie's eyes lingered on Jamie before they had to leave. She knew dwelling on it would only make her feel worse. 

Ellie marched forwards, ready to take on anyone who dared to stop them from continuing on with their day. They needed to find out how Jamie could have possibly consumed the formula. They didn't have much time. Class was going to start, which meant Lottie was going to Professor Devine's class, which meant she'd be trapped in a room with Haru, without Jamie. Meanwhile Ellie, Anastacia, and Saskia would all go to fencing. 

Dread rotted in Ellie's gut at the thought of leaving Lottie alone with Haru, regardless of there being an entire classroom full of other people plus Professor Devine. 

The ginger haired prefect stood as a block between them and the path to the central hallways.

"You need to stay here." he said sternly. 

Anastacia scoffed. 

"We have class." she said. 

The prefect glared at her. His arms folded over his chest. 

"The four of you-"

"What seems to be the problem here?" a voice reached out.

Ellie went rigid. So achingly slow, she turned her head to see Haru, unbothered and breezy as ever, approaching them and the prefect. 

Something rumbled in Ellie's chest. 

Stay away from my princess.

The prefect looked upon Haru before pointing an accusatory finger at the girls. 

"These four entered the boy's dormitory wing when I explicitly told them they weren't allowed."

Ellie's hard eyes traced Haru's expression as it morphed into one of curiosity. 

"Oh?" Haru turned to Lottie and Ellie. "Why would you disrespect your prefects like that?" 

An eerie momentary silence passed between the four girls. The least Haru knew about Jamie the better. 

Ellie's head snapped to the prefect when he spoke up.

"They were taking one of their friends to his room claiming he was sick instead of taking him to the infirmary." 

Haru tilted his head, his arms folded over his chest. He turned his body towards the prefect. 

"I'll handle this situation Freddie."  he said warmly. The prefect- Freddie, eyed the four girls before slowly picking up his school bag, stalking to his first class. 

Haru's gaze followed the prefect until he was out of ear-shot. 

"I may be wrong, but is Jamie the one who happened to be sick?" he asked distantly. 

Ellie clenched her fists. Chipped black nail polish painted nails dung into her palms. Her white knuckled grip must've been caught by Lottie, since her soft hands cupped Ellie's. 

A singular gentle pulse thrummed between the white hot rage and fear in Ellie's veins. 

"Yes." Lottie said quietly, softly. 

Ellie's eyes snapped to Lottie's face. Her eyes traced Lottie's features and her calm expression, tinged with concern. 

Lottie squeezed her hand.